Prep notes: Fung gets new AD post at Palo Alto

By john reid

Daily News Staff Writer

Posted:
03/20/2014 10:06:19 PM PDT

Updated:
03/20/2014 11:24:56 PM PDT

Jason Fung bleeds green and white, so it makes sense Fung has been named new athletic director at Palo Alto, replacing Earl Hansen. Fung is a 1992 graduate of Paly, having played defensive back and wide receiver for Hansen's football team. Fung headed the boys track and field program at Paly the past 15 years, but took a step back to work with the sprinters this year, leaving the head coaching job to Kelsey Feeley.

"I grew up in the Palo Alto community," said Fung, who teaches physical education at the school. "I've been here the past 35 years and I have seen the area grow. This is just the next step in my career."

Fung, who will officially take over Aug. 1, will have a lot to do with the building of Paly's new gymnasium.

"I've helped get the project off the ground," Fung said. "I'm going to dedicate myself to the new gym and the rest of the facilities. I want to build on continuing our success."

Fung had the support of Hansen, who graduated from long defunct Cubberley-Palo Alto, class of '69.

"It's only fitting I take over for Earl," Fung said. "I'm local, like Earl."

Jake Halas has been hired to replace Hansen as football coach at Paly.

"That was a big void, losing Earl," Fung said. "But, Jake and I work well together. We have the same goals in mind."

All head coaching positions are filled at Paly, according to Fung.

Robinson runs alone

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Gunn-Palo Alto track and field standout Sarah Robinson, headed to Stanford on a soccer scholarship, set meet records at the St. Francis Invitational on Saturday with times of 4:56.54 in the mile and 9:49.94 in the 3,000 meters.

No Simms, no softball

Menlo School-Atherton will not field a softball team because of a lack of interest. Part of the lack of interest stemmed from last year's softball coach, Glenn Simms, having health issues. Simms' health had a major setback around Thanksgiving of last year, leaving the program in doubt.

"A lot of girls didn't know if I was going to return or not," said Simms, who is back assisting Menlo baseball coach Craig Schoof at the varsity level but with a guarded workload. "The official decision not to have a softball team was made two weeks ago."

Menlo was going to drop the program last year because of not having enough players, but Simms, who works at Menlo Middle School, stepped in to keep the team afloat.

"There were only three seniors who came out," Simms said. "That was it. Then eight juniors who knew me came out for the team, giving us 11 players. They hope to have a team next year, but I'm not sure where I'll be at that time."

Bade sisters lift Pinewood

Senior Leeana Bade and junior Gabi Bade form two-fifths of the starting five for Pinewood-Los Altos Hills' girls basketball team. The second-seeded Panthers gun for a NorCal Div. V crown vs. No. 1 seed Brookside Christian-Stockton on Saturday at American Canyon High at 10 a.m.

It was Leeana who had a huge 3-pointer midway through the fourth period in the Panthers' 54-44 win over pesky Capital Christian-Sacramento in Tuesday's semifinals. Bade had nine of her game-high 17 points in the second period as the Panthers stormed to a 39-19 lead at halftime. Gabi Bade contributed nine points, meaning the Panthers' sister act scored nearly half of their team's points.

"First half, I played really well," Leeana Bade said. "Second half, not so much, but I hit a big 3. It was the best game I had all season. It was fun to play because we all executed. Our rebounding, our defense, was really good."

"Leeana was awesome," said Pinewood coach Doc Scheppler of Bade. "She played her best game of the year."

Gabi Bade likes playing with her older sister, but off the court, she said they have different personalities.

"It's a good experience playing with my sister," Bade said. "We're both opposites, not the same. She's more outgoing. I'm more quiet."

"Gabi's friendly, but I'm out there," Leeana said. "It will be different when I'm going to college and she's still here."

Leeana Bade has hopes of playing basketball at Chico State.

"We're still talking," Bade said.

Serra at St. Francis

Unexpected West Catholic Athletic League losses on Tuesday have taken some of the luster off today's baseball showdown with Serra-San Mateo visiting St. Francis-Mountain View. Not long after being named No. 1 in the nation by one national poll, the Lancers lost to St. Ignatius-San Francisco 5-2 in the WCAL opener. The Padres fell to Mitty-San Jose on Tuesday 9-7.